Self managed?

[pb4uski]

DIY

 

[RetireBy90]

I have used advisors in the past and have a Fidelity rep that advises when asked but I manage our stash. I do worry about what will happen if I precede DW. I have tried to keep in touch with Fidelity rep for that but I'm not sure that will work if I'm gone.

 

[lem1955]

I manage our investments, 2 traditional IRA's, 2 ROTH IRA's, 1 Inherited IRA and one Taxable account. 70/30 AA. Rolled over my 401k to a personal tIRA in 2016. Since then portfolio is 173% of what it was. It would have been more but we spent a lot replacing kitchen, windows, roof and major appliances in the last decade. This year at 70 I will start collecting SS. Withdrawal rate will drop to less than 1% unless I have a whopping big desire to BTD.

 

[MRG]

Both.
I manage 60% in Fidelity and pay for Vanguard's PAS for the remainder. Why? DW has no interest in managing money so if I go first she will call Vanguard and have them pull any assets over.

I've had some really bad hard sell nonsense from Fidelity and won't let them do that to her.

 

[swakyaby]

Self manage

 

[kgtest]

Had discussions with FAs. They all confirmed my plan was solid. Never paid for one though.

 

[Drifter]

Self managed. I wish I could rewind 20 yrs. of not paying attention to my 401k that I assumed when my money went in, EJ managed my portfolio. I was young and was uneducated about investing. Until several years ago when I noticed both my wife's account and mine were down 40 percent. That is when I got educated. I look back now and realize just how much further ahead we would be if only I would have known. Currently we are diversified with MMA,Growth and SP 500 index funds as well as dividend stocks. It has been life changing,not only from watching our money grow, but actually seeing who are genuine friends. I am not one that is jealous or hateful to those more fortunate than me. I am however interested in their path in life from point A to point B and how they achieved it.

 

[lauradrops]

We used an advisor for 8 years and needed to do so because we had much to learn, and my husband couldn't be trusted to remain calm and not make rash decisions. In 2018, we ditched the advisor and have done very well flying solo since. I no longer need the advisor to be my husband's financial psychologist because, thankfully, he has found his financial maturity.

 

[RockyMNHiker]

I had what I thought was a reputable fiduciary company manage our money from 2009-2021. I was in mutual funds before he was involved. He liquidated them all and put me in REITs and UIT's which I knew nothing about.

His investments did not do very well at all. He did no tax planning or tax advising, but offered the service for more $$$. He did no retirement planning other than plug numbers into a software program and spit me the results. We met once per year face-to-face. He took $73,000 in fees over those 12 years and I cannot believe I waited so long to self-manage. I was able to RE at 52 and lovin it!

 

[Ronstar]

Self managed until a couple of years ago, Now have 2 FA's.

I would have stayed self managed, but I switched to FA's to make things easier for DW after I pass on.

 

[Sunset]

Self managed until a couple of years ago, Now have 2 FA's.

I would have stayed self managed, but I switched to FA's to make things easier for DW after I pass on.

Planning to leave soon

 

[Sunset]

DIY.

Largely because first FA I met at a bank "helped" me invest in a 5% front end load mutual fund

And because previously I knew a fellow that was a FA, and some of the stuff out of his mouth was really sales pitches, plus he talked a lot about the free cruises he was awarded for getting people into certain funds. Showed me the conflict of interest.
Lastly, Mr. Big FA lived in a cheap co-op near my sister, and he ended up dying broke, so he didn't seem to be too smart an investor in the end.

 

[SteveTX]

I self manage my accounts.

 

[pacergal]

Self managed majority of time, prior to retirement . After last parent died, we formed a relationship with their FA as she helped transfer $. We stayed with her until she retired. The new FA is fine, but I am ready to go back to self manage. The problem is DH is not.
So still with FA

 

[Trailwalker]

I self manage and also recently started to manage my mother's trust.

 

[Dash man]

I self manage our investments and have done well. I turned one Roth account over to an FA as a trial a few years back. The market turned down and they took their quarterly fee out, and I decided to cancel them and took back control. Their stock picks were fine and similar to my picks. So why pay them?

 

[N02L84ER]

I self manage our accounts, except for an inherited IRA that makes up 5% of our total balance. It was managed for my in-laws and they seem to have selected a decent asset allocation, so we are simply emptying it over the prescribed 10 year period, then we will be back to 100% self managed.

 

[DrRoy]

Self. I had an advisor for a portion of my holdings about 15 years ago. His rate of return was lower than mine over 7 years and I had to pay an annual fee for that, so I ended the arrangement. Dealing with DFIL's estate, he had an advisor account since 2007 that was 95% in equities. The overall return in the period was 5.5%/yr, while the S&P 500 did 9.5% per year. Self is the way to go.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

DIO. (Do it Ourselves)

 

[target2019]

DIO. (Do it Ourselves)

Yes, it makes sense to include others in the plan.

 

[akck]

Another self-manager here who also manages several of our kids’ accounts. Managing loosely means going in occasionally and purchasing an index fund with any cash dividends.

 

[rkser]

DIY right from the start with help of two Forums 1) Bogleheads & 2) Early-Retitrement.

Index ETF Investor, but branching into some others, have made a few mistakes & learnt.

I & DW have each a Taxable, IRA, Roth & HSA.

I have ignored the Vanguard & Fidelity Advisory Service proposals in the past,

The only thought is when I am not able to manage it by myself..... DW who is younger who is in the know of our investments may carry on, our children may help (?) .

 

[Koolau]

An insurance agent contacted me about my variable insurance getting close to the point where the standard yearly premium will not keep the policy in force. She is w*rking on determining what I will need to pay to keep the policy (I'm keeping it as a good "bet" based on my health). SO then she springs it on me that not only does she handle insurance, but she offers Financial Management services (through someone else).
Apparently, it is with AUM payment. So far, I haven't seen the details, but once I get my insurance under control, I'm guessing I'll be telling her good bye.

 

[jebmke]

self-managed but basically auto-pilot now. There really isn't anything to "manage."

 

[Slim11]

3/4 of my stuff is managed by myself. 1/4 a FA. I wanted to see how they did vs me. Its similar. Like everyone said above if I die I want to be able to trust the place to manage the $$$. My family isn't capable of doing it and has no desire to learn. Sad, as I tried to give my kido 5k at 13 to pick and buy stocks. Figured that would motivate them. I put the money in the account, I got back this is hard, you know how to do it so pick for me. Not everyone is good at managing $$$, and some dont even want to try it.